Journal boxes



' P 1957 ,R STEINMANN 2,814,536

I JOURNAL BOXES Filed Aug. 50, 1954 Fl. E

Fig.2

74 75 6B INVENTOR;

ROBERT STEINMANN y HIS ATTO Y JOURNAL BOXES Robert Steinrnann, JerseyCity, N. 5., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Delaware Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 452,866

Claims. (Cl. 30841) of a rotatable axle on a railway car.

An object of this invention is to provide a journal box having animproved thrust receiving arrangement for resiliently cushioning andlimiting the axial movements of an axle rotatable in the journal box.

Another object is to provide a journal box having an improved thrustreceiving arrangement of simple and economical construction which may bequickly and easily installed in and removed as a unit from the journalbox and which will resiliently cushion end thrusts of an axle rotatablyjournalled in the box.

A further object is to provide in a thrust receiving arrangement for arailroad journal box a unit-handling demountable assembly which willresiliently cushion and limit the end thrusts of an axle.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of thischaracter, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafterdescribed and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is notnecessarily limited to the specific structures selected for illustrativepurposes in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section taken through the forward end of myjournal box.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 22 ofFigure 1 and showing my thrust receiving arrangement under load.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the forward end ofthe journal box with the thrust absorbing mechanism removed.

An axle is mounted for free rotation in a journal box 12 by a pluralityof similar rows of bearing rollers 14 that roll upon a hardened innerraceway sleeve 16 pressed over an end of the axle 1t) and upon the innersurface of a hardened outer raceway sleeve 18 pressed into the journalbox. The axle 10 may also assume a limited endwise shifting movementwithin the rows of bearing rollers. A rotatable cage 20 is provided withperipherally spaced roller-receiving pockets to locate the rollers incircumferentially spaced relation. The rows of rollers are separatedfrom each other endwise by an intermediate ring 22 journalled in theouter raceway sleeve 18 and radially spaced from the cage 20. Suitablelubricant such as oil is located within a well 24 to a sufiicient levelso that it has access to the rollers which distribute it to the variousmoving parts Within the box. A plug 25 in the box may be removed tofacilitate filling of the well 24 to the proper level. A lubricator ring28, surrounding the end of the axle in spaced relation, is slidablymounted in the forward end of the journal box between an inwardlyextending abutment rib 29 and the forward end of the outer racewaysleeve 18. This ring 28 which is held from rotation as by a pin or screwin the box 12, has a hardened annular flange 31 which engages and guidesthe forward ends of the rollers 14. Oil picked up by the hearing rollers14- is directed through a lateral States Patent 2, l 4,5 Patented N ov.26, 1957 passage 34 through the top of the ring 28 and then by aninclined face 35 on this ring into a pan 36 projecting from an inclinedcover 37 demountably held in position by screws and normally closing anopening 4h in the upper forward end of the box 12. A gasket between thecover 37 and the box prevents leakage of oil around the cover.

Lubricant is drained from the sloping bottom of the pan 36 through ahole 42 onto an inclined lip 44 formed on the top of a thrust block 45from which the lubricant is directed into a pocket 46 that connects withan eccentric lubricating groove 48 formed in the flat end of a facingmember 56) engageable with the end of the axle 10. This facing member 50which may be made of bronze or other material having a low coeflicientof friction against the axle in the presence of lubricant, isdemountably secured as by rivets or other suitable means to the thrustblock to provide for replacement of the facing member when it wears toothin for satisfactory service. A witness groove 52 is cut in theperiphery of the facing member 59 so that the distance between the axleengaging face of the member 56 and this groove may be measured todetermine the extent of facing member wear.

A tubular thrust block extension 54 projects towards but terminates inspaced relation to the forward end wall 55 of the journal box 12.Coextensive axial bores 56 and 57 through the facing member 50 and theextension 54 reduce the weight of the thrust absorbing mechanism and aidlubrication and cooling. A pair of similar lateral- 1y extending arms 66project in opposite directions from the body portion of the thrust blockadjacent to the facing member 50. Each of these arms as terminates in aforwardly extending foot 61 which is generally rectangular and isprovided with an arcuate end face 62. Each foot is loosely received in arectangular recess 63 having top and bottom guiding walls 64- and 65against which the foot may slidably engage, this recess being longerthan the foot received therein to allow for endwise thrust blockmovements when the axle 10 moves endwise against the facing member Sill.The forward movement of the thrust block 45 is limited by engagement ofthe feet 61 respectively against forward end walls 66 of the recesses63. Each rectangular recess 63 is formed in the inner end of a swivelbushing 68 journalled in a bore through the side of the journal box 12and demountably secured in position by a closure plate 70 that isdetachably secured to the side of the box as by screws. Each swivelbushing has an annular flange 71 engageable against the bottom of acounterbore in the box to limit the innermost positions of the swivelbushings so that the feet 61 will not be cramped thereagainst but willbe free to move in the recesses 63. Pins 74 secured in and projectingthrough the forward end 55 of the box are loosely received in slots 75in the bushings 68 to permit the required amount of swivel movement tothese bushings so that the thrust block 45 may tilt sufficiently about ahorizontal axis transversely of the axle to assure flat faced engagementof the end of the axle against the facing member 50. The individualslidable interfit of the feet 61 in their respective recesses 63 allowsfor tilting of the thrust block about a vertical axis to further assureflat faced engagement of the axle end against the facing member 50L Mythrust cushioning arrangement, as illustrated, includes a series ofcooperating resilient washers E i and a thrust collar 82 loosely securedtogether as a unit-handling assembly and located between a flat annularshoulder 83 on the thrust block 45 and a fiat boss 5-4 on the inside ofthe end box Wall 55. These spring washers 84 which may comprise a seriesof cooperating frusto-conical washers dished in opposing relation andcommonly referred to as Belleville washers, together with the collar 82are loosely slidably journalled in substantially non compressed relationon a sleeve 86 that is slidably and demountably fitted over the tubularextension 54, the ends of this sleeve being slightly upset or spun overto hold the washers 80 and thrust collar, 32 in unit-handling assembledrelation. The inner end of this sleeve enters an annular recess 87 inthe thrust block and the sleeve is demountably secured in position onthe tubular extension 54 by a snap ring 90 seated in a groove in theextension 54. An annular flange 92 terminating in a flat face projectsfrom the body of the collar 82 and has pressed thereover in tightlyfitting relation a flanged cap 94 normally engaging the boss 84. Aseries of annular shims 96 fitted between the cap 94 and the flange 92are preferably assembled in such number and combined thickness that theBelleville washers 80 will initially be compressed under a slightpredetermined preload between the flat shoulder 83 and a correspondingopposed flat face on the collar 82 thereby locating the forward ends ofthe thrust block feet 61 against the forward end walls 66 when the axlelit is exerting no end thrust on the facing member 50. This arrangementsimplifies assembly of the many parts of the cushioning mechanism as aunit which may be quickly and easily slid in place over the thrustblock. Furthermore, with this arrangement, Belleville washers ofrequired resiliency may be preassembled in the cushioning unit toprovide cushion units which are especially adapted to absorb endwiseaxle thrusts dependent on a particular car and on the condition underwhich it will be used.

In operation, when a car equipped with my box encounters a straight evenrun of track, there is normally a slight spacing between the flat end ofthe axle and the adjacent flat end of the facing member 50. Whennegotiating rough portions of track or curves, the axle may shiftendwise into facing member engagement. Further endwise shifting of theaxle in this direction compresses the Belleville washers together asshown in Figure 2 thereby causing them to rapidly build up a resilientlycushioned resistance that yieldably absorbs the endwise axle thrust,this endwise axle movement being finally limited when the washerscompress to a solid form at which time the thrust block 45 is solidlybacked up by the Belleville washers, collar 82, shims 96, cap 94, andend box wall 55. When the axle shifts endwise away from the facingmember 50, the combined resilient action of the Belleville washers willagain locate the thrust block against the forward recess walls 66 readyfor the next thrust absorbing action.

I claim:

1. In a journal box having an axle journalled for rotation and shiftableendwise therein, a thrust block engageable with the end of the axle toreceive endwise axle thrusts, thrust block projections supported at thesides of the box for slidable movement of the block endwise of the axle,a thrust block shoulder adjacent said projections, a thrust blockextension projecting longitudinally of the axle into spaced relationwith an end wall of the box, a unitary sleeve slidably journalled on theextension and located in spaced relation to said shoulder, a pluralityof resilient dished washers slidably journalled for free axial movementon the sleeve and compressed between the thrust block shoulder and saidend wall to urge the thrust block towards the axle, means on the sleeveloosely holding the washers and sleeve in unithandling assembly, andmeans engageable with an end of the sleeve and securing the sleeve andwasher assembly in demountable unit handling relation with the thrustblock.

2. In a journal box having an axle journalled for rotation and shiftableendwise therein, a thrust block engageable with the end of the axle toyieldably receive and cushion endwise axle thrusts, lateral thrust blockprojections slidably supported by the box for thrust block movementendwise of the axle, a tubular thrust block extension projecting in adirection lengthwise of the 4 axle and terminating at one end in spacedrelation to an end wall of the box, a thrust block shoulder at the otherend of said extension, a sleeve slidably journalled on said extensionand spaced from said shoulder, a collar slidably journalled on thesleeve and abutting said end wall, a plurality of resilient washersdished in opposing relation for axial compression between the collar andsaid shoulder and slidably journalled on the sleeve, end portions on thesleeve securing the washers and collar in loose unit-handling assembly,the washers cooperating to yieldably resist thrust block movementtowards said end Wall, and detachable means on the thrust block securingsaid unit-handling assembly in unit-handling assembled relation with thethrust block.

3. In a journal box having an axle journalled for rotation and shiftableendwise therein, a thrust block normally spaced from the end of the axleand engageable therewith to yieldably receive and cushion endwise axlethrusts, laterally extending arms on the thrust block, supportingmembers demountably received in the sides of the box, an end of each armbeing slidably supported in one of the supporting members, a tubularextension on the thrust block projecting into spaced relation with anend wall of the box, a thrust block shoulder at an end of the tubularextension, a sleeve demountably and slidably journalled on the tubularextension, said sleeve being radially spaced from the thrust blockshoulder, a plurality of interengaging resilient washers slidablyjournalled on and in unit-handling relation with the sleeve, one of saidwashers engaging the thrust block shoulder, and said washers resilientlyresisting thrust block movement transmitted thereto by endwise shiftingof the axle.

4. In a journal box having an axle journalled for rotation and shiftableendwise therein, a thrust block normally spaced from the end of the axleand engageable therewith to yieldably cushion endwise axle thrusts, laterally extending arms on the thrust block, bushings demountablyjournalled in the sides of the box, each bushing having an elongatedrecess for slidably and tiltably receiving an end of an arm, meanslimiting the rotatable movement of the bushings, a thrust block shoulderad jacent the arms, a tubular thrust block extension projecting endwiseof the axle from said shoulder into spaced relation with an end wall ofthe box, the thrust block having an annular recess between said tubularextension and said shoulder, a sleeve slidably journalled on the tubularextension, said sleeve extending into said recess and located in spacedrelation to said shoulder, a plurality of axially resilient washersslidably journalled on the sleeve, one of said washers engaging saidshoulder, said washers cooperatively exerting a resiliently yieldablethrust against said shoulder, and upset end portions on the sleeveloosely securing the washers and sleeve in unit-handling relation.

5. In a journal box having an axle journalled for rotation and shiftableendwise therein, a thrust block normally spaced from the end of the axleand engageable therewith to yieldably cushion endwise axle movement,laterally extending arms on the thrust block, bushings demountablyjournalled in the sides of the box, each bushing having an elongatedrecess for slidably and tiltingly receiving one of the arms, meanslimiting the rotatable movement of the bushings, a thrust block shoulderadjacent to said arms, a tubular thrust block extension of uniformdiameter projecting into spaced relation with an end wall of the box,the thrust block having an annular recess between the shoulder and saidtubular extension, a sleeve slidably journalled on the tubularextension, a member detachably securing the sleeve in position, a collarslidably journalled on the sleeve and abutting said end wall, aplurality of axially resilient dished washers compressed between thecollar and the shoulder and tending to yieldably hold the thrust blockagainst one end of each of said recesses, upset end portions of thesleeve loosely securing the washers and collar in unit-handling 5assembly with the sleeve, and one of said end portions 2,432,717extending into said recess in spaced relation to said thrust 2,672,382block shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 520,355 UNITED STATESPATENTS giggg 2,273,308 Young Feb. 17, 1942 6 Berger Dec. 16, 1947Brittain Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS France Feb. 12, 1921 GreatBritain Aug. 27, 1946 France Sept. 9, 1949

